ASWJ’s Dusamareb district commissioner, Abdirahman Ali Geda-qorow told Sunatimes that their fighters gunned down 11 militants fighters and injured dozen others in a deadly gun-battle that erupted at El-qohle area on Sunday.

He said only three of their militia men sustained injuries.

He added that the fight erupted after armed militants ambushed their fighters en route from El-but to Dusamareb town, prompting a full scale confrontation.

Al-Shabaab has not yet released any information regarding the incident, but the group has on several occasions attacked Ahlu Sunna positions in the region, only to be defeated later.